SCRIPTURE: John 2:13-25
“Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” (John 2:16)
Have you ever felt righteous anger, that is anger for the suffering for others, or anger over injustice?
I’ve felt it when watching movies about the holocaust, or news reports about child sex slaves.
Can you imagine how much righteous anger God must feel, as He witnesses all injustice, all brutality?
“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.” (Genesis 6:5-6)
One solution would be to get rid of the people who contribute to hurt and injustice (with a flood?).
But that would be all of us, since all of us contribute to the problem in some ways.
Another solution is to work with us, flawed as we are; and yet we seem to lack the strength to do this.
Still another solution – and this is what God does through Jesus – is to step into the world and help us.
Forgive us, set us free from Satan’s grip, give us the Spirit’s power, and show us how to live for God.
Here we see Jesus modelling righteous anger, standing against greed and injustice.
Jesus reveals God’s heart for all people – the temple was supposed to be a place to reconnect to God.
Jesus, like the temple, represents God’s heart for justice and mercy, love and peace, for all people.
Jesus continues to stand against injustice and greed, and He wants us to join Him.
He has forgiven us, set us free, given us the Spirit’s power, and shown us how to live for God.
Will we ignore the suffering of others, will we be silent or passive when injustice occurs?
Or will your heart be troubled, like God’s and will you take a stand, like Jesus?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, You know our hearts. Yet You have loved us enough to help us, to reconnect us to God’s heart. May Your Spirit fan into flame a zeal for You, for Your creation, for Your family, for justice and mercy, love and peace!
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Observation/Application
The main thing needs to be the main thing.
The centre piece of the temple had changed into an economic place – a place for trade and gain by people’s self interests including the church. God’s word was no longer central.
And so today, what is ventral in God’s house? His Word?
And so many change churches because their taste buds are not to their own self interests. What is central to my worship?
What is central to my daily living?
My desire?
His desire for me?
Give me the fervour to serve You with my whole heart each day Lord.
Whole-hearted thanksgiving to Thee I will bring
In praise of Thy marvelous deeds I will sing;
In Thee I will joy and exultingly cry,
Thy Name I will praise, O Jehovah, Most High.
Refrain
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!
O come to Jehovah, declare ye His fame,
And give Him all honor, for just is His Name.
My enemies turn and are scattered in fear,
They stumble and perish because Thou art near;
For Thou hast defended my right and my cause,
Thou sittest in judgment, upholding Thy laws.
Refrain
Rebuked are the nations, the wicked destroyed;
Their memory perished, their dwelling place void;
Enthroned and eternal, Jehovah shall reign,
The peoples to judge and the right to maintain.
Refrain
Thou, Lord, art a Refuge for all the oppressed,
All trust Thee who know Thee, and trusting are blest;
For never, O Lord, did Thy mercy forsake
The soul that has sought of Thy grace to partake.
Refrain
Give praise to Jehovah, the mighty deeds tell
Of Him Who has chosen in Zion to dwell,
Of Him to Whom justice and vengeance belong,
Who visits the lowly and overthrows wrong.
Refrain
Behold my affliction, Thy mercy accord,
And back from death’s portals restore me, O Lord,
That I in the gates of Thy Zion may raise
My song of salvation and show forth Thy praise.
Refrain
The sins of the nations their ruin have wrought,
Their own evildoing destruction has brought;
In this the Lord’s justice eternally stands,
That sinners are snared in the work of their hands.
Refrain
The wicked shall perish, the nations shall fall,
Forgetting their God, Who is God over all;
But God will remember the prayer of the weak,
Most surely fulfilling the hope of the meek.
Refrain
Arise in Thy justice, O Lord, and Thy might,
No longer let sinners prevail in Thy sight;
Great Judge of the of the nations, in judgment appear
To humble the proud and to teach them Thy fear.
Refrain